Rex Ryan: Patriots will win AFC East over Bills but ‘we ain’t conceding’

Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan told ESPN Thursday that he expects the New England Patriots to win the AFC East, but he isn’t counting the Monday night matchup with his division rival as a guaranteed loss.

“Does that give us an opportunity to win the division?” Ryan said of a Bills win Monday. “No, they’re going to win the division. I don’t see them losing four games in the upcoming things. I hope I’m wrong, but I don't see it happening.

“I’m just telling you the facts. The only thing I’m focused on is beating them right now, on Monday night. And we ain’t conceding that, I promise you.”

The Patriots are undefeated with a 9–0 record, and have won 27 of 30 games against the Bills over the last 15 years. The Bills sit in second place in the East with a 5–4 record, which Ryan says will give the Patriots extra motivation to win on Monday.

“Of course they want to bury me,” Ryan said. “No question they want to beat me. But this is nothing to do with me, it’s something to do with our team. Yeah, they want to put us away, there’s no question. When you look at it from their perspective, right now we’re second in the division, so of course they’re going to try to do whatever they can.”

More NFL

We've Got Apps Too

Get expert analysis, unrivaled access, and the award-winning storytelling only SI can provide - from Peter King, Tom Verducci, Lee Jenkins, Seth Davis, and more - delivered straight to you, along with up-to-the-minute news and live scores.